Taraba
Gov. Kefas, General Faransa in cold war over destruction of N10 billion mining equipment
By Victor Idujagi Jalingo
There is an ongoing sour relationship between Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and his strong political Aly, General Jeremiah Faransa (rtd), Chairman, Task force Committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation over the circumstances sourounding the destruction of over N10 billion worth of government owned mining equipment in Akwana, Wukari local government of the state.
General Faransa (Rtd) holds two exhalted positions as Chairman, Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation as well as the Chairman of Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue Services.
During his last visit to Akwana mining site, Faransa allegedly ordered his team to set fire on all the mining equipment worth N10.5 billion Naira and burnt them.
The Akwana mining site which is located at the boarder between Taraba and Benue states, is believed to be richly endowed with Lithium, Gold and Sodium said to be in large deposits, has over the years been a centre of mining activities for both officials and Illegal miners.
Our investigation reveals that the equipment which includes two brand new Excavators, Soundproof MiKano Generators, Detecting Machines, motorcycles and other equipment used for such activities, were purchased by Governor Kefas through the Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources at the cost of about N10.5 billion early this year.
The Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources, Matsai David confirmed that after the purchase, he personally conveyed the mining equipment to Akwana on the directives of the Governor.
“I conveyed the mining equipment to Wukari on the directive of the governor, I am not answerable to the Taskforce. So when the governor comes back from the trip, I will give my explanation on the situation, for now, I reserve my comment” David disclosed when contacted over the incident.
The question by many Tarabans last week is whether Governor Kefas has also embarked on secret Illegal Mining activities. Citizens are wondering why the purchase of the mining equipment without the knowledge of the Chairman of the Taskforce committee on illegal mining?
Meanwhile, the Taraba Concern Citizens (TCC), a pressure group operating within the state has requested that both Gov Kefas and General Faransa owe the people of the state explanation why equipment procured with state funds amounting to a whopping sum of over N10.5 billion be destroyed by a committee set up by a committee set up by the state government.
The Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emos Tijani said, “we are calling on Governor Kefas to come out clearly and tell the people of the state why a Taskforce established by his government would destroy equipment worth Billions of Naira which was procured by tax payers money
“We the concern citizens are still confused of what led to the destruction of the mining equipment, is it that the Faransa led Taskforce is in disagreement with the state government? Or, is it that the governor and his government are also engaged in secret illegal mining activities without the knowledge of the Faransa committee? “he questioned.
The action of General Faransa to burn down the equipment of such magnitude is still questionable as why couldn’t the committee confiscate the equipment which would have served as exhibit and would have justified their claims of having illegal miners operating in the state.
There are feelers that the general has his hidden plans to begin his own private Mining business in the area and as such destroyed the government’s equipment with the motive to frustrate the government’s mining business.
There are other suspicions from different quarters that the General was bringing in partners who mostly are powerful retired generals who are into mining business and who had been his godfathers while he was serving in the military.
According to a source who was at the mining site during the destruction at Akwana told our correspondent last week that the Chairman, Gen. Faransa, had told them that the equipment belonged to illegal Miners who always hide to harness mineral resources in the state.
National update investigation reveals that Governor Kefas has since fallen apart with General Faransa following his alleged excesses and secret dealing, including arrogating powers to himself as Chairman of the Taskforce.
It was gathered that during the raid by Faransa’s Taskforce on several mining locations in the state few months ago , the Taskforce recovered different kinds of mineral resources amounting to billions of naira from illegal miners, but the items were later sold and the proceeds were allegedly diverted to personal pockets.
These and many other reasons was responsible to why Governor Kefas in April this year appointed Faransa as Chairman Taraba state board of internal revenue to relief him of the position of the Taskforce committee Chairman.
It was gathered that since his appointment as Chairman, board of internal revenue, Faransa has vowed not to relinquish his position as Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining.
Aside from his refusal to relinquish the position of the Taskforce Chairman, Faransa sometimes last week allegedly wrote to the office of the State Accountant General directing that the AG must henceforth furnish his office with details of all revenue acrueing to the state, including monthly federal allocations.
Again, General Faransa under the board of internal revenue is currently recruiting boys loyal to him to handle collections of revenue on heads and sub-heads that are domicile in all the MDAS in the state, thereby depriving the professionals and technical officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies from doing their duties.
It was however gathered that this development did not go down well with Governor Kefas who according to sources viewed Faransa as arrogating too much powers to himself and over stepping his bounds.
Sources reveals that for the past three weeks, Governor Kefas has shot his doors against Faransa, including declining to pick all his phone calls.
All efforts by our correspondent to reach General Faransa, the Chairman of the Taskforce committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation proved abortive.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kefas on media and communication, Hon. Emmanul Bello told our correspondent that the appropriate person to comment on the matter was the Permanent Secretary Bureau for Solid Mineral Resources, Mr. Matsai David who earlier confirmed his office purchased the mining equipment on the directives of the Governor.
Eleojo Samuel, Jalingo
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Taraba State University, on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of her Services to the university and embark on an indefinite strike.
Comrade Bitrus Joseph Ajibauka, the chairperson of the association who announced the Union’s decision in a press statement said, the action follows, both the state government the and university management’s failure to meet her long overdue demands.
The union noted in the statement that it has been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government by failing to address their challenges.
“This is to notify the general public that the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)Taraba State University Branch has from today Wednesday, the 11thDecember, 2024, commenced a total comprehensive and indefinite strike action. We have withdrawn our services to the Taraba State University, with effective from Monday, 9th December, 2024.
“This action is imperative because we have been shortchanged, neglected and left out by the University Management and the Taraba State Government for failing to address our demands.
“We want both the Taraba state government and the university management to address the following demands before we can resume our services.
“The Outstanding salary /Allowances, Unpaid full salaries of September 2022, Unpaid full salaries of October 2022, the Withheld 28% of June, 2022 salary balance, the Withheld 51% of November, 2022 salary balance and the Withheld 44% of December, 2022 salary balance.
“The promotion arrears balance of 2016 to 2020 promotion arrears. The lack of pension scheme. The Contributory pension Scheme of the university since it inception in 2008 to date, is against the provision of Pension Act, and is a threat to the future and job security of our members.
“The dissolution of the Taraba State University Governing Council by the Visitor Dr. Agbu Kefas, on the 1st June, 2023 is affecting the performance of the University because the University is now operating without Council.
“It is heart touching to report to you that Taraba State University, Jalingo is still using the N18,000 National Minimum Wage Bill of 8th December, 2009. Across the four (4) salary structures, which was implemented in April 2010.
The N30,000 National Minimum Wage of 2019, the 25/35 per cent salary consequential adjustment of 2023 and the N70,000 New National Minimum Wage of 2024 as enacted by the National Minimum Wage (Amendment), Act
2024 have not being implemented in the University by the University
Management and the Taraba State Government.
“Our members in Taraba State University are yet to benefit the N35,000 wage award per month as approved by President Bola Tinubu. The Balance of Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA) for nonteaching staff from 2009 to 2013 has not been paid.
“We totally reject the retrogressive application of the Criteria and guideline for appointment, appraisal and Promotions of Senior Non-Academic Staff of 2012
that was annulled, repealed and replaced for the Appraisal Exercise of 2023/2024.
“The guidelines for Appointments and Promotionsof Senior Non-Academic Staff as approved by Council in 2020 that was used for 2020/2021, and 2022/2023 Appraisal exercise has not been repealed by any Council. Pursuant to this, we are re-appealing to the University Management and the
State Government to use the 2020 policy document for our Appraisal exercise of 2023/2024 and set up a Committee to review it as appropriate”. The statement read.
Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
Another tragedy has struck the family of Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas following the sudden death of the driver who drove the Bus that conveyed the Governor’s Mother and Sister, late Atsi during the attack on their convoy along Wukari-Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area last week.
The driver, who’s name is simply given as Abraham was said to have slumped and died instantly on hearing news of the death of Mrs. Atsi Kefas, younger sister of Taraba State Governor who died in Abuja on Tuesday as a result of an accidental discharge from one of the police escorts on the convoy
Abraham was in company of other government house drivers at Taraba Governor’s Lodge, Abuja on Tuesday when they received the news of the death of the Governor’s younger sister, Atsi Kefas.
Sources reveals that Abraham shouted in a very loud voice and suddenly slumped and died instantly.
It was gathered that the late Driver, Abraham an indigene of Wukari, Governor Kefas home town, was engaged as one of the drivers in the convoy of Governor Kefas’s wife after he became Governor in 2023.
According to family sources, the late Abraham is a relation of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Agyin Agbu Kefas .
The news of the death of Abraham who is said to have left behind two wives and many children has sent shock waves to the families of Governor Kefas and government house drivers in Jalingo.
As at press time, there was no official statement from the state government on the death of the driver.
Meanwhile, Prominent Nigerians have continued to troop T Y Danjuma’s Taraba Governor’s Lodge Asokoro Abuja to pay their condolences on Governor Kefas over the death of his Sister,Atsi Kefas. ///.
Eleojo Samuel Jalingo
Atsi Kefas, younger sister of Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, who sustained bullet wounds from accidental discharge from the gun of one of the security personnel on the convoy of Mrs. Jummai Kefas, mother of Taraba State Governor along Wukari-Kente road on December 5, has died.
A family sources disclosed to our correspondent in Jalingo on Tuesday that Atsi, 44 years, died in a private hospital in Abuja while receiving treatment for her injuries from the gunshot in the early hours of Tuesday.
National update last week reported that unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Thursday last week attacked a vehicle in which Jummai Kefas, the mother of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, was travelling along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state during when one of the security personnel in the vehicle who attempted to return fire to the gunmen accidentally shot Atsi who was seated next to the governor’s mother.
Investigation reveals that the suspected kidnappers had targeted Governor Kefas Mother for kidnap when they attacked the convoy on December 5.
Atsi was intially rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari where her condition was stabilized before she was flown to Abuja for further treatment.
The family sources further reveals that Doctors have been battling to save Atsi’s live in a private hospital in Abuja since Thursday last week before she finally died in the early hours of tuesday December 10.
As at press time there has not been any official statement from the state government concerning the death of the Governor’s younger Sister.
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